Library Updates

3D Printing at the Library

The UT Health Science Center Library has purchased a 3D printer for students, faculty, researchers and others affiliated with the Health Science Center. The newly established Makercloset, located on the 3rd floor of the Briscoe Library, provides an “intellectual playground” for exploring 3D printing and design creation in an environment that encourages collaboration, innovation and experimentation. 3D printer users can submit a job request via an online form and library staff will initiate the print job. The requestor is welcome to view the printer in action—although this is a slow process that can take hours!

3D printer users are encouraged to take advantage of shared files located on the NIH 3D Print Exchange, and to share original print files on the Exchange. Additionally, library staff have created a 3D print blog where photos of completed objects can be shared.

The3D printer was purchased with funding from an Emerging Technology Award supported by Federal funds from the National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health, under Contract No. HHSN-276-2011-00007-C with the Houston Academy of Medicine-Texas Medical Center Library. There will be no charge for the printing of objects as long as supplies last. Many HSC users may find this to be the first stop for printing and tweaking a prototype before they have a final version printed at Creative Media Services. Future plans are to obtain funding to purchase a 3D digital scanner to add to the Makercloset.